Joshua s



i J. S. BOWLER. SHANK FOB BOOTS AND SHOES.

No. 2,859. Patented-Nov. 21,1842.

ED srargsg rnnr OFFICE.

JOSHUA BOWLER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Boom AND SHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 2,859, dated November 21, 1842.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSHUA S. BOWLER, ofLynn Essex county, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in making Boots and Shoes with Me-. tallic or SteelPlates Inserted Between the Soles of the Shank for Sustaining the Shankand Rendering it More Elastic, which is clescribed as follows, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of thisspecification. V

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the center of the boot showingthe positionof the steel plates and the screws and rivets by which theyare fastened to the boot and to the metal heel piece. Fig. 2 is av viewof the heel turned bottom up. Fig. 3 isa vertical transverse section ofthe heel. Fig. 4: is a view of the steel plates combined .and securedtogether. Figs. 5, 6, 7 the steel plates detached. Figs. 8, 9 transversesection of the plates. Fig. 10 section of a spring heel shoe.

This invention and improvement consists in combining and arranging threesteel plates or springs A, B, O between the soles of the shank of theboot or shoe being of the same curvature of the soles but of less size,each one being smaller than the next above, the plate next the innersole I being the largest and the plate next the outer sole J being thesmallest, and the middle plate B being of an intermediate size and allof them being fastened together at the heel by a screw D and rivets Eand separated at the ends next the ball of the boot or shoe where allthe ends have a longitudinal play or therein and a larg are fastened tothe heel of the boot by the screw D passed through the inner sole heeland said plates from the inside of the boot passing through the platesand into a inetallic heel plat'e H aving a female screw flat headcountersunk in the heel which serves the double purpose of assisting tohold the parts of the boot, at the heel firmly together and also as ametallic heel plate to prevent wearing and which is superior to thecommon plating, as it is not exposed in a manner to cause noise inwalking and to the disagreeable effect produced in the use of theordinary plate while the countersunk plate or nut is sur-V rounded bysoft pliable leather of which the heel is composed. It also holds theparts of the heel firmly together and at the same time braces thecombined elastic shank producing a very desirable elastic sup-port atthe shank of the foot of the wearer much superior to the single bracesheretofore used and very 'useful to persons whose feet have beensprained, and rendering the boot, shoe, or pump or whatever article thecombined' shank is applied susceptible of'being finished in the neatestmanner.

The elastic substance used for forming the combined shank may be of anysuitable kind and of course must be adapted in its outline to correspondwith the form of the soles be tween which it is applied. 1

In making a spring heel pump shoe the nut will be covered by the outersole .ent-irelythe screw extending only to the inside of the outer sole,as seen in Fig. 10.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isThe combination of the countersunk screw heel plate with the combinedspring shank constructed and arranged as herein described.

WVM. P. ELLIOT, E. MAHER.

